Ever since I read that Google is working on 1) a new (Android?) operating system AND a new hardware device to work with it, optimizing internet access and (I hope) ebook reading (hard to imagine without e-ink), I have been looking out for this... Is this it?

Hard to imagine? I find reading on my iPhone or iPad to be a terrific experience except in full sun. I read for hours -- no noticeable eye strain. Actually, I have less eyestrain than reading with books as it's a lot easier to adjust the brightness of the screen than the brightness of my room.

One's mileage will vary. Only you can determine if you can read on an lcd comfortably. I will say one shouldn't judge one's experience reading on a computer monitor and assume reading on a phone or tablet will be the same. It hasn't been for me.

Well, leebase, I'm really neutral. I don't even have a reader yet. I expect the Pocketbook 360 to arrive tomorrow. Then maybe I'll have more to say. I like the Ectaco Jetbook, too, mainly due to the price and the use of ordinary batteries, but yes, I would probably go for a combo netbook-ebook reader if the price was right. That will come, surely.

I may be wrong, but it's my understanding that Android is also a little tougher to develop for than some OS's, including the iPhone / iPad and Windows OS. It's a bit more hardware-dependent, and the OS iterations are fairly rapid: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/...fragmentation/

It's still possible a batch of Android-based tablets will come out, as these issues don't seem to be slowing down Android smartphones too badly. But I expect it's going to take a bit of time and isn't a sure thing.